Tuesday marks the return of a full slate of baseball, which always brings an added sense of value for first inning bets. It’s also an easier way to wash down the 1-2 night from Monday — maybe it’s still the jet lag. The good news is the 75-62 record is still intact, and there are three more opening inning bets to nail tonight. Let’s attack some starting pitching and maybe even ride two strong arms out west. Here are the best NRFI picks, targeting weakness in starting pitching or slumping bats.
Best YRFI/NRFI Bets Today: No Run First Inning Bets
Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers YRFI (-120)
The Rangers start one of their best arms in Nathan Eovaldi, countered by Tampa’s Taj Bradley and his ridiculous 29.7% strikeout rate. The play here is more on the offense, both teams at the plate not being held down for multiple games in this series. The breakout potential for the Rangers at home is there; they just need to weather the hard-throwing Bradley. That is not as difficult for a lineup like Texas if it is patient and forces Bradley into some uncomfortable spots early on. Eovaldi also deals with a top third from Tampa that limits strikeouts and can hit for power. Seeing a baserunner in the first inning should not be that big of an ask. The answer comes in the form of a first inning score.
San Diego Padres at Toronto Blue Jays YRFI (-125)
Alek Manoah is certainly a heavy favorite to be the prime suspect in giving up a first inning run. Toronto is hoping Manoah can return to some sense of his old self; just do not expect that to happen in tonight’s opening frame. The better part of this play relies on Joe Musgrove either making a mistake or playing into Toronto’s top half of its lineup. Manoah’s numbers are horrific, primarily due to that bad stretch he endured before being sent down to the minors. A near 1-to-1 ratio with his strikeout-to-walk rate at 18% to 14% percent is just not good. San Diego should be aggressive and attack Manoah right from the first pitch thrown.
Minnesota Twins at Seattle Mariners NRFI (-130)
One of the two losses last night came down to a scoreless first inning in Seattle despite the game totaling 13 runs. Let’s not make the same mistake, and thankfully neither pitcher is going to allow that to happen. Bryan Woo plays host with a scorching 30.5% strikeout rate to a 6.4% walk rate. His .262 xwOBA is also outstanding. Minnesota has a couple of bats up top that will easily succumb to better strikeout pitching. That is also most of the Mariners as a team, so life should be a little easier on the road for Bailey Ober. The Twins hurler has an above-average 24.6% strikeout rate but is crushing elsewhere — including a .229 xBA and .297 xwOBA. He is limiting loud contact better than most pitchers, so expect a sweat-less first for Ober.
